Rail-joint and fastener.



B. F. GILBERT. RAIL JOINT AND PASTENER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1913.

"1,081,823. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Witnesses I fl/ fiwentor,

y g MW Attorneys.

BENJAMIN F. GILBERT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL JOINT AND FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented D ee. 16, .1913.

Application filed. August 18, 1913. Serial No. 785,414.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. GIL- nnn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rail Joint and Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in rail joints and fasteners, one object of the invention being the provision of a two member-ed device adapted to fit upon opposite sides of the web and base of a rail, either at the joints thereof or at intermediate portions, and also to carry means for engaging two ties, the two members being bolted to and through the web of the rail so as to brace the 'ail against lateral movement and to hold the ties relatively to the rail.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tie and rail fastener, which will prevent the rails from being turned due to the thrust thrown thereupon by trains, and which will also permit the necessary longitudinal expansion and contraction in the rails.

VJith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

in the drawinge-l igure 1 is a top plan view of the complete device when in use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 designate two ties, and 3 and 1 the two rails which are joined and properly connected by means of the tie and fastening members 5 and 6. Each of these two members is provided with means for properly seating upon the two ties 1 and 2, such means, as clearly shown, constituting the two flanges 7 and 7 8 and 8 of the member 5, and flanges 7 and 8 8 of the member 6.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, these flanges extend a sufficient distance upon the ties to prevent any lateral movement of the parts relatively to the tie, and form a relatively large receptacle for the ties. A recess 10 is provided in the flanges 7 and 8 for the reception of the tongue 11 carried by the respective flanges of the member 5. Thus in order to separate the members 5 and 6 they are moved so as to disengage the tongue 11. from its respective recess 10. The spike apertures 12-42 are provided in the respective flanges at the ends of the members 5 and (3, so that spikes may be driven thereinto and into the tie. Thus the members are locked after being properly positioned relativcly to the rail and provide a fastening and chair or rail brace for the rail upon the base and web. The member 5 is also provided with the recessed portions 13 directly below the rail base of the supporting portion for the reception of the tongues or projections 1 1- of the member 6, the respective tongues 14 being so disposed as to extend below the base of the rail and constitute a rail baseengaging portion that projects to interlock with the ail base receiving portion of the member 5.

A rail brace 15 is carried by the member 5, while the cooperating rail brace 15 is carried by the member the same being constructed, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, to engage the web of the rail and the under side of the head or tread thereof. By this means, both rails as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are braced for the full distance between the two ties 1 and 2 and from points at the outer faces thereof.

The two shouldered portions 16-46 are carried by the member 5 at both ends thereof, and provide the channel or recess 17, which is provided with the spike receiving opening 18, said opening being disposed about a portion of the base of the rail so that a spike driven therethrough and into the tie will have its head engage the portion of the rail base observable through the slot 17 and thus hold the rail seated upon the member 5'). A similar structure is provided at the end of the member 6, there being providcd recessed portions 19-49 for the reception of the heads of the locking bolts 20, said bolts being extended through the rail bracing portions 15 and 15 to lock the members 5 and 6 relatively to the rail. These bolts are extended through apertures (not shown) in the web of the rail and these apertures are of such a size as to permit of the necessary longitudinal movement of the rail due to expansion and contraction. The ing the outer flanges of both members and intermediate bolts 21 are also connected through the members 5 and6' and'also the adjacentportion of the web of. the rails. 3.

with means for engaging the ties and thus for holding the ties relatively together, and at the same time engage the rail, or both.

rails-at a joint, upon oppositeysidesvto be clamped thereto in suchrelation as to hold the rail against tilting, the spikes driven in the apertures 12.assisting in preventing any tearing of the members 5 and 6 from the tie.

What is claimed is:

L A rail oint and fastener, including two members, two tie receiving flanges carried by each member, a rail brace carried by each member, cooperable means carried-by both members to hold the members against independent longitudinal movement, and cooperable meanscarried by the flanges of both members to hold the members against independent vertical movement.

2. The combination with two abutting rails and twoties, of a railjoint and fastener, including two members, each member being provided with two depending parallel flanges adjacent the ends thereof to receive the respective ties, fastening devices piercthe tie to hold the members against separation, railbrace' carried byeach member the full length thereof and shaped to receive a portion of the base and web of the rail, and cooperating means carriedvby the members for locking the members against independent:longitudinal movement.

3. The combination with two abutting rails and two ties, of; a=.rail.joint and'fastener, including two members, eachmember being;provided with two depending "parallel flanges adj acent. the ends thereof to receive the respective ties, fasteningv devicespiercingythe; outer; flanges of both members-and the tie to hold the members against separation, a rail brace carried by each member thefulllength thereof: and shaped to receive a portion of the base: and web of the rail, cooperating means carried by the members for lockingv the members against independent longitudinal movemenhanzd fastening devices.- piercing the rail braces and-the adjacent portion of the web of the rails.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, Ihave hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. GILBERT.

WVit-nesses:

S. W. FoULKRoD, JOHN W. YARD.

Copies of thispatent may be obtaincdfor five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington; 11. 0. 

